California personal injury settlements

If you’ve been involved in an accident or other situation, the result being that you suffered a personal injury, you may be entitled to compensation for such things as medical and hospital bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering in cases where the injury was the result of negligence or intentional acts of another party.

In the majority of these types of cases, negotiations between the parties and their attorneys involve out-of-court settlements. The rationale for this is that trials are very expensive and stressful and are far more unpredictable with respect to the outcome than a negotiated settlement.

The state of California follows comparative fault laws for car accidents. This means that more than one person involved in the accident can be found to be financially responsible for the accident. However, you would still be able to seek compensation from damages suffered even if you are found to share some liability for the accident.

With California personal injury settlements, you would be required to pay your percentage of the liability out of your settlement. The problem with initiating a lawsuit and taking it to trial is that the liability percentages decided on by the judge could wind up being far less favorable vs a negotiated settlement.

Following the guidelines

There’s no hard and fast amount for a negotiated settlement because it’s determined based on a variety of factors. However, there are plenty of things that you can do to increase your odds of getting a favorable settlement.

The most important thing is to seek immediate medical attention following your accident. This serves two purposes: (1) it proves the your injuries were a direct result of the accident vs any other sources, and (2) documentation from the hospital, recommended treatment, and follow-up care are important in securing a favorable settlement.

The next step to building your case is collecting evidence to prove your claim. This could include photos of the accident and your injuries, video, eyewitness statements, and police accident reports.

Working with an attorney that specializes in personal injury cases and has a winning record when it comes to negotiated settlements is very important to the success of your case. A good attorney is going to be looking out for your best interests throughout the entire legal process and will fight vigorously to ensure that your get the best settlement possible.

Navigating the system

The Los Angeles-based law firm of Gregory Yates, attorneys for personal injury, has successfully recovered over half a billion dollars on behalf of clients through California personal injury settlements as well as awards and jury verdicts.

In addition to handling motor vehicle accident cases, Greg Yates and associates are experienced in handling wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injury, and dog bite cases, to name a few. The firm also handles class-action suits and will work with other attorneys as needed for very complex cases or those involving a large number of plaintiffs.

Contact the law firm of Gregory A. Yates to schedule a free consultation.